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By MAX KELLEY
Cronkite News
PHOENIX — UCLA’s Aaron Holiday declared for the 2018 NBA draft with a unique added advantage — he’s sparred with NBA competition all his life.
Holiday’s two older brothers, Justin and Jrue, play professionally for the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans, respectively. And he said they played a major role in developing his intensity.
“Growing up with my brothers and sister, you got to be (competitive),” Holiday said. “Obviously they played a big role.”
Holiday worked out for the Phoenix Suns on Monday, alongside five other guards: Miami’s Bruce Brown Jr., Penn State’s Tony Carr, Kentucky’s Hamidou Diallo, Kansas’ Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and IMG Academy’s Anfernee Simons.
The Suns have the No.1, No. 16, No. 31 and No. 59 picks in the upcoming NBA draft. Holiday is projected to go No. 28 per NBAdraft.net, but Sports Illustrated has him slotted at No.16 to the Suns.
The guard, 21, made his presence felt, vocalizing with the other potential draftees and grabbing attention of the organization’s front office.
“He’s not afraid to talk,” said Suns Assistant General Manager Pat Connelly. “Which (for) a point guard is really, really important because you’re kind of the quarterback of the team.”
Holiday’s bloodlines are not lost on the Suns either.
“His pedigree is unbelievable,” Connelly said. “His brothers — Jrue and Justin — are great players and have really good NBA careers so far.”
Although both brothers accomplished the dream of playing in the NBA, their paths were very different, giving the youngest Holiday brother perspective on the variance of the draft process.
Justin went undrafted in the 2011 NBA draft after playing all four years at the University of Washington. Jrue was drafted 17th overall in 2009 following just one season at UCLA.
All three brothers also fill different roles on the basketball court. Justin, standing at 6-foot-6, started all 72 games he played in for the Bulls last season, averaging 12.2 points and four rebounds per game as a wing player. Jrue, a 6-foot-4 combo guard, averaged 19 points, six assists and 4.5 rebounds per game, playing off the ball while fellow former all-star Rajon Rondo ran the offense. Jrue also ran the point when Rondo was on the bench and earned an NBA 2017-18 All-Defensive First Team selection.
But the Suns — and Holiday himself — view the youngest brother as a more traditional scoring point guard, who could possibly fill the backcourt spot alongside Devin Booker.
Holiday was UCLA’s main threat last season, averaging 20.3 points and 5.8 assists per game. He also shot 48.6 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from beyond the 3-point line. But Holiday wasn’t always the Bruin’s star.
After starting starting all 32 games his freshman season, Holiday was forced to come off the bench his sophomore year in lieu of Lonzo Ball, the eventual No. 2 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft
“He adjusted to a great team and a great player in Lonzo,” Connelly said. “That speaks to his character and how he approaches the game.”
With three years of collegiate experience and two older brothers to serve as a blueprint, Holiday entered the NBA draft process primed for success.
He impressed the organization and even the other players at the workout during the Suns’ infamous three-minute run, recording 28 down and backs, one shy of the record mark of 29.
“He’s in great shape,” Miami’s Bruce Brown Jr. said of Holiday after the run. “I need to get there.”
Holiday said his competitive nature came out during the run after the Suns told the players 29 was the number to beat.
“Yeah, they told us (the record) before,” Holiday said. “I tried to get it, for sure.”
Whether Holiday will live up to the family name is yet to be determined. But his confidence never wavers. When asked who the best Holiday brother was, he responded with a smile.
“I guess we’ll find out next year.”
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